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BULLETIN of the 



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ISSUED QUARTERLY 
BY THE UNIVERSITY 



Ko. VIII. 
Part II. 

January, 1907 



COLUMBIA, S. C. 
Second - Class Mail Matter 




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Bulletin 



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University of South Carolina 



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Part II. No.VIIL 



War Records 




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llu Press of THE 
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MRS. WooDRow v,.;: 

*N}V. 25, 1959 



FOREWORD 



No satisfactory estimate of the number of graduates and 
students of South Carolina College who entered the service of 
the State and the Confederate States in the War for Southern 
Independence can yet be made. Prof. Andrew C. Moore has 
for several years been gathering and collating biographical 
data regarding the alumni and students since the foundation of 
the college, in 1806, and when his necessarily arduous labors 
shall have been completed, and the Honor Roll of 1861-'65 is 
perfected, it will prove how nobly the grey-haired alumni and 
boy-students fought for the principles they had been taught at 
South Carolina College. It is believed that the two sons of 
Prof. Francis Lieber are the only two alumni of the college who 
fought in the Union army. Their brilliant brother, Oscar 
Montgomery Lieber, was mortally wounded at Barhamville, 
Va., and died June 27, 1862, fighting in that cause his father 
was one of the bitterest in opposing. 

The University of Virginia has preserved the names of 445 of 
her sons, from all over the South, who were killed, died or lost 
in actual military service of the Confederacy, and will engrave 
their names on enduring tablets. 

"Harvard," says the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, "had, in 
1860, 4,157 living graduates and 823 students, presumably over 
eighteen years old. Probably 3,000 of her students and grad- 
uates were of military age and not disqualified for military ser- 
vice. Of this number 1,230 entered the Union army or navy. 
One hundred and fifty-six died in service and sixty-seven were 
killed in action. Many did not go who might have gone, 
unquestionably, but the record is a noble one." A stately me- 
morial hall has been erected in memory of Harvard's sons in 
the War between the States. 

The only memorial to a Confederate soldier on the walls of 
the University of South Carolina is the bronze tablet, a portrait 



4 

in bas relief of "Henry Middleton Stuart. Born Jan. 17, 1841, 
First Lieutenant S. C. Artillery, C. S. A. 'Died at Averysboro, 
N. C, Feb., 1865." 

There is a comparatively small collection of books and two 
MSS. bearing on the war; a fac-simile of the South Carolina 
Ordinance of Secession hangs a few feet from the Stuart me- 
morial ; on the main wall of the Library is a portrait of Gen'l. 
G. T. Beauregard, the defender of Charleston, the gift of the 
Hon. W. A. Courtenay; and in the hall of the Clariosophic 
Society is an excellent life-size portrait of Wade Hampton ; but, 
neither stranger nor South Carolinian can find other evidence 
hereabout of the great war in which the sons of this college bore 
so conspicuous a part in field and forum. 

Pending the completion of the soldier roll, the following arti- 
cle on the "The South Carolina College Cadets," by Capt. Ire- 
dell Jones,- and extracts from Minutes of the Faculty 
(1861-1863), will give some idea of the burning enthusiasm 
with which the students answered the call of the State. Con- 
sidering the disproportion in numbers of alumni in 1860, it may 
safely be assumed that South Carolina College's quota compares 
favorably with that of the University of Virginia. 

As compared with Harvard, it will not be necessary to say 
that "many did not go who could have gone" — for, as Capt. 
Iredell Jones, one of them, said: "All the students who were 
physically able did service in the armies of the Confederacy." 

Y. S. 



THE SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE CADETS 



By Capt. Ire;de;iwI, Jone;s, 2d Lie;utenant of S. C. C. Cadets. 



Reprinted from "The News and Courier" of Dec. ig, ipoi. 

The year 1860 will ever be indelibly impressed upon the 
political history of the American Republic. Its violent discus- 
sions, its intense excitements, the frightfully cruel war that 
followed, and the death, waste and destruction that resulted as 
a consequence will ever form a chapter of intense interest for 
future generations. That a South Carolinian of the old school, 
who had been taught by proud, high-toned, chivalric fore- 
fathers to guard with jealous care his civil and political rights, 
who looked upon his liberty with more concern than his life, 
should hurry to take steps to withdraw his connections from 
what he knew to be vital encroachments by the General Govern- 
ment upon his inherited belief in the sovereign rights of his 
State was not to be wondered at. The sequel has shown how 
more than sixty thousand South Carolina soldiers, more than 
the voting population of the State, hurried to the battlefield, to 
defend the principles they had been taught to respect, and for 
which they .were willing to offer their lives. 

South Carolina was the leader in the cause for Southern 
rights. During the entire year of 1860 her statesmen were 
foremost in asserting advanced Southern doctrine during the 
political contest for President of the United States. At first 
the excitement was greater within the borders than in other 
States of the South and probably the discussions more violent. 
Upon Columbia, the Capital of the State, and significantly bear- 
ing the name of the original great discoverer of our free West- 
ern Hemisphere, fell the heaviest shock of the fearful political 
storm. During the year political conventions were held. The 



State seceded from the National Union on the 20th of Decem- 
ber, The Ordinance of Secession was actually passed in the 
city of Charleston, but the convention first assembled in Colum- 
bia and passed a preliminary resolution to the same purpose. 
The streets of Columbia were at times filled with excited 
audiences, and speakers from the balconies and porches of the 
hotels hurled back at Northern fanatics threats of resistance 
against any efforts or action looking to coercion. In the mean- 
while the bonfires were lighted and torchlight processions were 
frequent, and the beautiful patriotic girls of the glorious old 
city made palmetto cockades and tied them with blue ribbon 
and presented them with a "God-speed" to the cause of liberty. 
How could the gallant young men of the South Carolina Col- 
lege fail to be impressed with the patriotic fever now raging 
over the land? It is not surprising that they hurried to reor- 
ganize the College company in the fall of 1860. There had been 
in former days a company in the College known as the South 
Carolina College Cadets, but this older organization was dis- 
banded by order of the Governor in 1856. The students got 
into trouble with the police of Columbia during that year, and 
good order in the College was threatened, and the authorities 
had the guns returned to the arsenal and the company dis- 
banded. B. J. Witherspoon, of Lancaster, was the last Captain 
of that older company. The following newspaper account of 
the old College company, which took part in the parade on the 
occasion of Gen. Lafayette's visit to South Carolina in 1824, 
will be interesting: "In line were the South Carolina Cadets. 
There were 40 or 50 of these young men, commanded by Cadet 
Capt. Saxon. They had a striking uniform, a dark grey, 
swallow-tail coat and white trousers. The head dress was the 
peculiarly shaped cap or chapeau of that day. The white duck 
trousers were gathered at the knee by a band of black velvet 
ribbon an inch wide, with streamers hanging down the outer 
seam and falling to the ankle. Long trousers, known as 
'Lafayette pants,' had then supplanted the knickerbockers which 



1 

Lafayette wore when an American soldier. The cadets wore 
powdered queues of the colonial style." 

The organization which was inspired by the revolutionary 
events of 1860 was formed in the fall of that year. A complete 
list of the names of its members has luckily been preserved by 
Mr. R. F. Fleming, a student of the College, a member of the 
company, and now a highly respested citizen of Greenwood 
County. We add the list as follows : 

Roster of thi; South Carolina Colleige; Cadets, 1861. 

John H. Gary, Captain. 

E. Dawkins Rogers, First Lieutenant. 
Iredell Jones, Second Lieutenant. 

L. H. Watts, Third Lieutenant. 

T. S. Dupont, Ensign. 

J. Petigru Mellard, Quartermaster. 

S. M. Richardson, First Sergeant. 

J. C. Habersham, Second Sergeant. 

J. M. Ivy, Third Sergeant. 

W. T. Gary, Fourth Sergeant. 

F. K. Oliver, Fifth Sergeant. 

R. W. B. Elliott, First Corporal. 

R. DeTreville Lawrence, Second Corporal. 

R. M. Anderson, Third Corporal. 

J. J. Fripp, Fourth Corporal. 

J. G. McCall, Fifth Corporal. 

James Watts, Sixth Corporal. 

Privates — D. Ancrum, W. A. Ancrum, F. M. Bailey, J. M. 
Bell, S. Boykin, Landon Dowie, J. W. Brearly, J. F. Byrd, J. C. 
Calhoun, M. A. Carlisle, R. K. Charles, W. T. Charles, W. A. 
Clark, C. W. Coker, H. C. Cunningham, J. B. Cureton, F. B. 
Davis, J. E. Davis, S. P. Dendy, W. P. DuBose, B. C. Dupont, 
J. B. Elliott, A. A. Faust, Augustus Fielding, R. F. Fleming, C. 
B. Foster, J. H. Fowles, I. N. Fowles, A. C. Eraser. W. H. 
Geiger, Weston Gibson, Leslie Glover, A. T. Goodwyn, C. E. 
Gregg, T. C. Grey, J. N. Guerard, P. Gullatt, A. H. Hamilton, 



8 

R. A. Harllee, John C. Haskell, P. L. Henry, I. K. Heyward, J. 
M. Hill, Edward Houston, Joseph C. Haskell, J. H. Heuitt, H. 
P. Jennings, Wm. Kirk, J. M. McCarley, G. H. McCutcheon, 
R. G. McCutcheon, S. McGowan, T. B. McLaurin, F. H. Mac- 
leod, J. G. Marshall, J. Poinsett Mellard, C. G. Memminger, Jr., 
T. J. Moore, A. P. Nicholson, F. S. Parker, Jr., T. S. Rhett, H. 
W. Rice, Jr., Arthur Robinson, P. H. Robertson, W. J. Rook, 
D. T. Smith, E. C. Smith, R. H. Smith, A. T. Smythe, D. P. 
Sojourner, J. T. C. Spann, J. P. Spratt, H. W. Stevenson, G. 
M. Stoney, C. P. Storres, E. R. Stuart, H. M. Stuart, J. H. 
Townsend, W. W. Trapier, W. J. Trezevant, J. C. Vance, J. T. 
Walker, Ernest Walworth, A. H. Watson, J. B. Watson, Bent- 
ley Weston, W. Whitaker, J. S. White, J. A. Wilson, W. A. 
Youmans. 

This company was first drilled and instructed by Capt. H. S. 
Thompson, of the Arsenal, afterwards Governor Thompson, 
and was furnished with arms and accoutrements by the State. 
The members provided themselves with a pretty gray uniform, 
and were delighted to parade the streets of the city and perform 
various military evolutions according to Hardee's Tactics in the 
presence of an admiring public. There could not have been a 
greater "esprit de corps" manifested in any similar organization. 
Drifted together from all parts of the same State, inspired by a 
common purpose, that of education, being friends and class- 
mates, and socially upon an equality, they had pride in them- 
selves, in the College and a fervent love for the mother State, 
which burned brighter in their young hearts as the threatened 
dangers to their State grew greater. They cheered every senti- 
ment that honored South Carolina; they welcomed every one 
who was as a friend to the cause of Southern rights. When old 
Edmund Ruffin, of Virginia, made his appearance within the 
walls of the College they gave him a grand reception, called for 
a speech, waved the Palmetto flag over his head and did honor 
to the long, silver grey locks that fell over his shoulders. If the 
writer remembers correctly, our present distinguished citizen. 
Judge A. C. Haskell, was the young man who held aloft the 



9 

Palmetto flag over the old man's head. Time passes and the 
eventful year of 1861 is ushered in. This company continues 
its drills and makes preparation with the burning thought that 
they were following the motto of their State: "Animis opihus- 
que parati!" They did not dream probably of the frightful 
havoc, distress and destruction that has since been experienced 
by our people, but they were impressed then with all the patri- 
otic motives which made the Confederate soldier famous, and 
induces the desire on the part of the Daughters of the Confed- 
eracy to know the part performed by the cadets of the College 
in the war between the States. If they exulted in their hand- 
some uniforms, the martial step and inspiring drum beat, their 
inmost thoughts struck deeper and a more serious chord, when 
the threatened hostilities at last broke out. The first gun that 
was fired on Fort Sumter sounded the call to arms. For days 
and weeks before the signal the students had watched the re- 
ports of the rapidly occurring events in Charleston and the com- 
pany was eager to go to the front, but the more conservative 
Faculty vigorously opposed the idea of disrupting the College 
and exerted all their influence to prevent the boys from tender- 
ing their services to the Governor, but without avail. On the 
morning of the 13th of April, they marched in a body to the 
South Carolina depot, where they boarded the train for Charles- 
ton, paying their own way. Capt. Gary had made application 
to the President of the College asking permission to go, and the 
Faculty were holding their meeting on the morning of the 12th 
of April while the boys were hurrying away. On this point 
the recollections of Mr. R. K. Charles (a member of the com- 
pany), of Darlington, are so very clear and explicit that the 
writer will insert extracts from his letters, as follows : 

"When the firing began in Fort Sumter the company tele- 
graphed the tender of its services to Governor Pickens in 
Charleston and requested orders to come down immediately. 
The Governor accepted the company as a part of the militia in 
service, and ordered it to hold itself in readiness and remain in 
Columbia until further orders. This was looked upon by the 



10 

students, as, no doubt it was, as a plan to keep them out of the 
fight, and they were greatly dissatisfied and began to devise 
modes of circumventing the Governor's plans. At last it was 
determined to disband the company which had been tendered 
and immediately form another company and go to Charleston 
without asking for orders, and this was done. They could not 
take their guns with them, as they had promised to use the guns 
only with the consent of the Faculty, so the guns were stacked in 
the usual place in the library. The new company had only a 
short time to prepare to take the train, which left at 6 o'clock. 
Just before the train started the Captain telegraphed to Gover- 
nor Pickens that a new company was on its way to Charleston. 
President Longstreet, seeing the impossibility of restraining the 
boys, came down to the train and gave them a pleasant farewell 
and God-speed." 

As the train speeded on to Charleston the reports of the 
heavy artillery firing on Fort Sumter could be heard and no 
words can picture the patriotic feelings of the young men as 
they went to the front to take part in the active hostilities. As 
the train drew up at the depot in Charleston the rain poured 
down in torrents. Some might imagine that the ardor of this 
patriotic and enthusiastic corps would have been cooled off, but, 
undismayed and undaunted, they fell into ranks while the rain 
poured down on their pretty new uniforms and kept step down 
the streets of Charleston to the Hibernian Hall, which was pro- 
vided for their quarters. But there was no rest. After taking 
supper at the old Pavilion Hotel the boys scattered about, some 
to the Battery to listen to the firing going on in the harbor, 
others to learn the news and find out possibly what part of 
Fort Sumter it was designed that they should assail ! Lieut. 
L. H. Watts was dispatched to Beauregard's headquarters for 
orders, and finally we received instructions to be prepared to 
embark for Sullivan's Island at daylight next morning. In the 
meantime they were furnished with guns and ammunition at 
the State Armory and the four officers were each presented by 
the Governor with a Colt's navy revolver. We boarded the tug 



11 

boat early in the morning of the 13th and steamed away across 
the harbor to the Island. We touched at Mount Pleasant wharf 
on account of the heavy firing and waited for some time until 
the firing slackened and then proceeded to the Island. Before 
arriving we observed Fort Sumter on fire and the bombarding 
ceased. Major Anderson had saluted us with several shots, 
which fell in the water short of the mark. The boys had been 
ordered to keep below deck to be concealed from view, but, 
urged by their enthusiastic curiosity, they held their heads 
above deck until one of Major Anderson's solid shot ricochetted 
over the boat, then their curiosity was suddenly satisfied and 
they obeyed orders ! Arriving at Sullivan's Island we were 
marched to that elegant hotel, the old Moultrie House, beyond 
Fort Moultrie, and were eye-witnesses to all the thrilling and 
now historical events which occurred on the ever-memorable 
13th of April, 1861. We witnessed the heavy volumes of 
smoke rising in Fort Sumter ; we say the small boat, known as 
the Wigfall boat, proceed toward the burning fort and we saw 
the United States flag hauled down and the Palmetto flag take 
its place on the flag staff. The ca,dets were quartered for seve- 
ral days at the Moultrie House, when they were sent to a pri- 
vate summer house nearer and below Fort Moultrie, where our 
principal duties consisted of drilling on the beach and enjoying 
every moment of our new and novel situation. The only real 
service performed by the cadets during their stay on Sullivan's 
Island was to guard the beach, apprehending the enemy might 
make a land attack on Sullivan's Island. This duty they per- 
formed most faithfully, and a few of these conscientious, en- 
thusiastic mid-night sentinels (for only a few are left) will 
remember the countersigns "White Oak" and "Myrtle."' At 
the end of three weeks or more we received orders to return to 
Columbia. On landing in Charlston on the return trip we were 
escorted by Muller's Band, and as the company passed the Mer- 
cury office the flag of the office was lowered and the salute 
returned. When we reached the Mills House, Governor Pick- 
ens came down the steps and made a short speech compliment- 



12 

ing the company and presented it with the arms and accoutre- 
ments it had received at the State Arsenal on arrival in 
Charleston, and ordered it to take quarters at the Charleston 
Hotel and proceed next day to Columbia. The Mayor (old 
Dr. Goodwyn) and the City Council received it at the depot and 
escorted it to the City Hall, where refreshments were served in 
the good old South Carolina style. We did not then appreci- 
ate the great, far-reaching, momentous act ! We could not 
raise the veil that obscured the future and see in the near dis- 
tance that deadly, bloody, disastrous and cruel war, which made 
desolate the homes of a continent and buried for a time, at least, 
to the bottomless pits of oblivion the proud hopes of a brave, 
honorable, law-abiding and liberty-loving people ! We looked 
upon the scene and rejoiced. We saw with delight "The Star 
Spangled Banner" hauled down, for we then looked upon it as 
the emblem of oppression and the living sign of the violation 
of the covenant, while tear-drops moistened our eyes as the em- 
blem of liberty was flaunted to the breeze, and we hurrahed for 
"The Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star !" 

The return of the cadets to Columbia meant the reopening of 
the South Carolina College and the continuation of the class 
exercises. During the absence of the students the professors 
had lectured to empty benches, at the same time they remained 
at their posts ready for their duties. The College exercises 
were kept up in some shape until the close of the term, the latter 
part of June. There was, however, no peace outside the Col- 
lege walls and none within. Active steps were taken at once 
to go to Virginia, then becoming the seat of war, and one by 
one the boys began to leave College to join the various com- 
mands then forming throughout the State. The excitement 
was so great there could be no study, and while the Faculty 
lectured and passed resolutions and urged the students to 
remain at their books, they were busy preparing for the field 
of battle. During the latter part of June, 1861, another com- 
pany was formed, which tendered its services to Governor 
Pickens to go to Virginia. A committee was appointed to wait 



13 

on the Governor at his residence at Edgefield and was com- 
posed, according to the writer's recollection, of S. M. Richard- 
son and H. W. Rice. The Governor received them very cordi- 
ally and seemed willing to accept the company for the vacation 
of three months, but conditioned upon the consent of the 
Faculty. During the interview the Governor said : 

"The war would be of short duration and that the Govern- 
ment needed statesmen more than soldiers." The Governor 
expressed the thought also that in his opinion the young men 
would be of more service scattered about in different organiza- 
tions than in one compact body. The Faculty passed resolu- 
tions declining to assume any control over the students during 
vacation, so accordingly when the committee's report was 
received the cadets disbanded, some going off at once to war, 
and others remaining until the session ended, the last of June. 
The company was composed as follows : 

OI^IflCElRS. 

Prof. Charles S. Venable, Captain. 
Iredell Jones, First Lieutenant. 
H. M. Stewart, Second Lieutenant. 
S. M. Richardson, Third Lieutenant. 

NON-COMMISSIONED GlCFlCElRS. 

H. W. Rice, First Sergeant. 
J. M. Ivy, Second Sergeant. 
T. K. Oliver, Third Sergeant. 
R. M. Anderson, Fourth Sergeant. 
E. Houston, Fifth Sergeant. 
J. G. Marshall, First Corporal. 
J. G. McCall, Second Corporal. 
G. M. Stoney, Third Corporal. 
J. M. McCarley, Fourth Corporal. 
B. Weston, Fifth Corporal. 
R. DeTreville Lawrence, Sixth Corporal. 
Privates— A. K. Boyce, J. W. Brearley, J. C. Calhoun, R. K. 
Charles, C. W. Coker, S. B. Dendy, E. Dennis, W. P. DuBose, 



14 

L. S. Dupont, A. R. Elmore, J. B. Elliott, C. B. Foster, A. 
Fielding, J. H. Fowles, Weston Gibson, Leslie Glover, P. 
Guillot, T. C. Grey, J. N. Guerard, A. T. Goodwyn, J. C. Has- 
kell, A. H. Hamilton, H. P. Jennings, S. S. McAliley, G. H. 
McCutchen, R. T. McCutchen, J. A. Mills, J. P. Mellard, A. P. 
Nicholson, J. G. Ramsey, J. M. Richardson, D. J. Sojourner, 
R. H. Smith, A. T. Smythe, G. R. Thornwell, J. H. Trezevant, 
J. L. White, W. D. Warren, J. A. Wilson. 

It will be observed that Prof. Charles S. Venable, Professor 
of Mathematics of the South Carolina College, was made Cap- 
tain of this company, which had volunteered for service at the 
front in Virginia. It was the opinion of all concerned at that 
time that some one of riper years and more matured judgment 
should command this body of students, but the selection of this 
distinguished educator was a deserved compliment and shows 
the highest tribute his scholars could pay to their esteemed and 
honored instructor. Prof. Venable's letter of acceptance, dated 
24th of June, 1861, herewith annexed, shows the earnest and 
zealous manner in which he proceeded to provide for the boys 
and expresses his appreciation of the honor : 

Fair:pax C. H., June 24, 1861. 
Mr. Iredell Jones — Dear Sir: I received your letter this 
morning and telegraphed my acceptance. I write to give my 
answer more in detail. I will command the company with 
pleasure I am sorry that any difficulty occurred, but on sober 
thinking of it my acceptance may serve in a measure to heal 
it, and I will do everything I can for men who have treated me 
with so much kindness as the South Carolina students. I must 
hear from you at once, for I must get tents and all sorts of 
camp equipage in Richmond. We must not move with too 
much baggage, but must be well fixed in every particular, so 
that all parties may be satisfied at home that the hardships 
of soldier's life are relieved by all the care that watchful 
officers can give their men. I am perfectly convinced that 
every company should have its own hospital tent. When I 



15 

hear more definitely from you I can go to Richmond and make 
many of these arrangements myself. The boys must be very 
particular not to bring too much luggage. Do you think it will 
be necessary for me to go to South Carolina to bring you on, 
or would it answer as well to meet you in Richmond? Let 
every man in the corps get at once one or two flannel belly- 
bands, and besides this a cape buttoned to the cap or a Have- 
lock. These things are great preventives against disease. I 
need not tell you that in some points of drill the corps will find 
me not yet au fait, but I think I can make it up very soon. On 
this point I feel clear, because you can all say that I did not 
seek the position which you in your too great kindness and 
confidence have offered me, and I cannot and will not decline 
it. Have you any knapsacks ? Have you the right to the mus- 
kets? Telegraph me what you desire me to do briefly and 
write to me in full. The telegraph, as well as the letter, should 
be sent to Manassas Junction, Tudor Hall Station, care of Capt. 
Casson, Kershaw's Regiment. We are now in a few miles of 
the enemy, about fifteen miles from Washington. There are 
three College companies in the field — my old College, Hampden- 
Sidney, away up near Phillipi ; Washington College, in the same 
direction; and the Mississippi University, at or near Harper's 
Ferry. Hoping soon to hear from you, and through you thank- 
ing the cadets again and again for this display of their confi- 
dence and good will, I am yours very truly, 

(Signed) C. S. Vsnable. 

The College opened as usual in October, 1861, at the begin- 
ning of the next term, but in a crippled condition. With 
several exceptions the professors were ready for duty, and a 
limited number of students had reported. The work of educa- 
tion under difficulties proceeded, but still the usual control of 
the Faculty could not prevail to keep down the patriotic senti- 
ments of South Carolina boys. The following extract is taken 
from LaBorde's History of the South Carolina College, dated 
November 8, 1861 : 



16 

"A committee of the students presented a communication to 
the Faculty from the Governor of the State, expressing his 
willingness to allow the College Cadets to report to Gen. Dray- 
ton for military duty, provided they have the permission of any 
of the Faculty. The Faculty unanimously resolved that they 
have no authority to disband the College. There was now a 
general meeting of the students, and they resolved to leave for 
the scene of war. The President waited upon the Governor 
and made the most strenuous effort to prevent it, but it was 
in vain." 

This third company of College Cadets proceeded to the coast 
and was quartered for a time at the race track in Charleston. 
It is to be regretted that accurate date of the record of the ser- 
vices of this company is not available at this writing. The 
writer has assurances that it will be furnished in the future. 

But the curtain does not fall on this the third act of the South 
Carolina College Cadets. All the students who were physically 
able did service in the armies of the Confederacy. Scattered 
in the various commands, their blood was shed on all the great 
battlefields of the war! There are but few left to tell their 
deeds, except to say briefly, "They died for their country," but 
thousands and hundred of thousands will always remain to 
cherish the memory of the Southern soldier who gave his life to 
preserve his liberty! 



17 



MINUTES OF THE FACULTY OF SOUTH CAROLINA 
COLLEGE, J86J-J863 

February 11, 1861. — The Faculty met at nine o'clock. All the 
members present. Monitors' bills were examined by the Presi- 
dent, and absences without excuse were punished as usual. 
The exercises were suspended for the remainder of the day to 
enable the students to join in demonstration in honor of the 
formation of the Southern Confederacy. 

Faculty then adjourned. B. W. Me;ans, 

Secretary of Faculty. 

February 25, 1861. — Absentees from prayers on Wednesday 
and Friday morning were interrogated in reference to the dis- 
orders of the night previous. No facts were elicited. 

March 4, 1861. — At this meeting the Committee on the Com- 
pany submitted the following report: 

The Committee on the Company of College Cadets beg leave 
to report: That in accordance with the vote of the Faculty 
establishing the company for twelve months, and reserving the 
right to abolish it at any time in the interim, should it seem 
fit, they have discharged the duty assigned them in the forma- 
tion of the company and the revision of the Constitution of the 
same. The young men were duly informed of the conditions 
on which leave to abolish the company was granted by the 
Faculty : 

1st. The company cannot be called out into any actual service 
whatever except by order of the President, conveyed through 
the Captain or commanding officer. 

2d. The arms are to be kept in the hall under the Library, 
subject to the order of the commanding officer for drill. 

3d. The affairs of the company to be regulated with a view 
always to the strictest economy. 

4th. That no company suppers or other festivities, either by 
officers or privates, are to be allowed. 



18 

These conditions were not embodied in the Constitution when 
it was read by your Committee, but they have suggested that 
this be done in order that a clear and distinct understanding 
may prevail on these points. The Committee would suggest 
that the Constitution be submitted to the President for his 
approval. His Excellency Governor Pickens very kindly, at 
the suggestion of the Committee, has given the company the 
use of one hundred percussion muskets from the State Arsenal. 
Respectfully, 

(Signed) C. S. Ve^nable;. 

R. W. BarnwelIv. 
M. La Bordb. 

April 6, 1861. — Faculty met. Inasmuch as nothing had been 
heard from President Longstreet, since his departure, and the 
classes requested the Faculty to resume the studies of his 
department. Dr. La Borde consented to instruct them in Belles 
Lettres; Mr. Barnwell in Political Economy. Dr. Reynolds 
offered to take charge of the compositions of the classes, which 
had hitherto been assigned to Dr. La Borde. It was so ordered 
by the Faculty. J. S. Reynolds, Seceretary. 

April 12, 1861. — The Faculty called together by the Chair- 
man, Dr. La Borde, to consider the application of Mr. J. Gary, 
Captain of the College Cadets, for leave of absence to visit the 
Governor of the State, and tender his company for the attack 
on Fort Sumter. 

The following resolutions, offered by Dr. Reynolds, were 
adopted : 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the Faculty to do all they 
can to maintain the regular exercises of the College, and, there- 
fore, they refuse to grant leave of absence to any student for 
the purpose of joining any military company which is, or shall 
be, engaged in the service of the State. 

Resolved, That the organization of the College Cadets having 
had reference to the retention of the students here, we deem it 
contrary to the design both of the Trustees and the Faculty, 



19 

that it should, in any way, be made instrumental in the disband- 
ing of the College, and the suspension of the College exercises. 

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Barnwell, but 
not adopted: 

Resolved, That while the "Faculty do not approve of the 
object of Mr. Gary's visit to Charleston, we are not disposed, 
considering the circumstances, to prevent his interview with 
the authorities of the State, in behalf of the College Cadets, 
and, therefore, excuse his absence from College duties until 
Saturday. 

The application of Mr. Gary was finally referred to the 
Chairman of the Faculty, Dr. La Borde. 

Note. — Mr. Gary presented to Dr. L. a regular application 
for dismission from College, which was, of course, granted. 

J. S. Re^yngIvDS, Secretary. 

April 12, 1861.— The Faculty having learned that Mr. Vena- 
ble was to leave this day, with his corps, for the seat of war, 
Professor John LeConte was requested to arrange the distribu- 
tion of his hours and recitations among the professors still 
remaining. 

The Chairman of the Faculty was requested to address to Mr. 
Venable a communication expressive of the high estimate in 
.which he is held by his colleagues, and their readiness to assume 
the labors and to carry on the studies of his department. 

May 6, 1861. — The Faculty met this morning at 9 o'clock. 
Present: Professors La Borde, John and Joseph Le Conte, 
Rivers, and Venable. 

President Longstreet being prevented by sickness from 
attending. Dr. La Borde was requested to take the Chair. 

Professor Rivers offered the following resolution, which was 
adopted : 

Resolved, That the President be requested to submit to the 
Board of Trustees a statement of all the circumstances attend- 



20 

ing the students' going to Charleston Harbor. There being 
no further business, the Faculty adjourned until Monday next. 

B. W. Means, Secretary. 

N. B. — In consequence of the late period at which the stu- 
dents returned from Charleston Harbor, it was found impracti- 
cable to have the usual May exhibition. 

May 13, 1861.— The Faculty met at 9 o'clock, all the mem- 
bers present except Professor Barnwell. 

The reports of the monitors for the past week being under 
consideration. Professor Venable offered the following resolu- 
tion, which was unanimously agreed to : 

Whereas, it was the understanding of the Governor and the 
Trustees, who were consulted while the students were in 
Charleston, that they report themselves for duty during the 
week just past. 

Resolved, That the monitors' bills for that week be passed 
over without calling the absentees to account. 

June 24, 1861. — Faculty met at 12 o'clock. All present. 

The following document was laid before the Faculty, con- 
taining the acceptance by the Governor of the College Cadets 
for military service during the vacation, on certain conditions, 
and in refemce to it, the following record was ordered : 

State oe South CaroivIna, 
Executive Department, 

21st June, 1861. 

Mr. Richardson and Mr. Stuart, two young gentlemen, mem- 
bers of the College Cadets, having brought a letter from Dr. 
La Borde, to request that I allow the cadets to go on to Vir- 
ginia for the three months vacation, and President Davis having 
agreed to receive them for that term, I am willing now that they 
may go upon the condition that each member of the company 
shall file with the Faculty a written permission from his parent 
or guardian — and also upon the condition that they get the 
consent of a majority of the Faculty. I also require that they 
shall return to their College duties on the 1st of October next. 



21 

I would at the same time urge that some experienced and 
thorough-bred officer be elected as their Captain — for the 
responsibility is very great to trust such valuable young men 
in great danger under young and inexperienced officers. 

I feel great reluctance to allow this privilege, for the College 
is deeply identified with the honor and welfare of the State, 
but as it is said the Professors desire it, and that it is the only 
way to keep the College together, I agree to it. 

(Signed) F. W. Pickens. 

1. The Governor seems to have mistaken the purport of Dr. 
La Borde's letter to him, since Dr. L. did not intend to 
"request" the acceptance of the Cadets. 

2. The Faculty have not expressed any "desire" in regard 
to the matter. 

3. During vacation the Faculty have no control over the 
movements of the students, and, therefore, they deem the whole 
matter to be one lying entirely with the Executive of the State, 
and their parents or guardians. 

Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing record be transmitted 
to his Excellency. 

Resolved, That the third of the above statements be commu- 
nicated to the Cadets, as expressive of the views of the Faculty. 

(Signed) J. L. Re;ynoIvDS, 

Secretary pro tern. 
B. W. Means, 
Secretary of the Faculty. 

October 7, 1861. — Messrs. Davis and Taylor having applied 
for restoration to the Senior Class : 

Resolved, That those members of the Senior Class who have 
been engaged in the service of the State, or of the Confederate 
States, be allowed to return to their class and to stand their 
examination for diplomas, but not to compete for the honors 
and appointments. 

November 8, 1861. — A committee of the students presented 
a communication to them from the Governor of the State, 



22 

expressing his willingness to allow the College Cadets to report 
to Gen. Drayton for military duty: Provided, They have the 
permission "of any of the Faculty." Whereupon, at the sug- 
gestion of the President, it was unanimously agreed that the 
Faculty have no authority to disband the College. 

J. L. Re;ynolds, Secretary. 

November 11, 1861. — The Faculty met at the call of the 
President. Present: Profs. La Borde, Rivers, Jno. and Jos. 
Le Conte, and Dr. Reynolds. 

The following resolution was unanimously adopted: 

Resolved, That the Faculty, regretting the departure of the 
students on the eve of examination, and thinking that imme- 
diate action may not render their detention in camp necessary, 
respectfully request his Excellency, the Governor, to have the 
Seniors furloughed, for a short time, to complete their examina- 
tion for Degrees and the Commencement exercises, which must 
be attended to now or altogether neglected. 

The President was requested to communicate this resolution 
to the Governor. . J. L. Reynolds, Secretary. 

November 29, 1861. — The Faculty met at the usual time. 
Present : Dr. La Borde, Chairman ; Profs. Rivers and Venable, 
and Dr. Reynolds. 

A communication from the Board of Trustees having been 
read, the following response was directed to be communicated 
to the Board through the Chairman of the Faculty : 

"The Faculty in their annual account, made through Presi- 
dent Longstreet, declined making any recommendation of the 
Senior Class, because of the law that said class shall undergo 
an examination in November before such recommendation. 

"As the Board of Trustees has forwarded to the Faculty a 
resolution that the Faculty be requested to report the names 
of such members of the Senior Class as in their opinion, under 
existing circumstances, should receive diplomas, the Faculty, 
leaving to the Board the responsibility of the matter, report 
the following young gentlemen for the first degree, making 



23 

no distinction among the numbers of the class in good standing, 
as they beHeve them all to be in the service of the country : 

William R. Atkinson, John M. Bell, J. Kinsler Davis, H. C. 
Cunningham, Thos. S. Dupont, R. W. B. Elliott, John N. 
Fowles, John H. Gary, T. W. Gary, Wm. T. Gary, Peter 
Gullatt, Jos. C. Habersham, Wade Hampton, I. Keith Hey- 
ward, F. H. Macleod, R. S. McCutcheon, J. Pettigrew Mellard, 
J. Poinsett Mellard, C. G. Memminger, Jr., Henry W. Rice, 
S. M. Richardson, E. Dawkins Rogers, H. M. Stuart, L. C. 
Sylvester, W. J. Taylor, J..S. Walker, Ernest Walworth, Alfred 
H. Watson, William Whittaker, John A. Wilson, William H. 
Youmans." W. E. Boggs, 

Secretary of Faculty. 

January 6, 1862. — Faculty met. Present: Dr. La Borde, 
Chairman ; Profs. Jno. and Jos. Le Conte, Rivers and Reynolds, 
and Venable. * * * 

Prof. Rivers moved that the examination for November be 
omitted, and he presented the following resolution thereon: 

Resolved, That the examination for November be passed by ; 
that the classes of the last term, not having reviewed their 
studies before going to the defence of the coast, be allowed to 
proceed with the regular studies in the present term, and that 
any absence henceforth from similar cause be held inexcusa- 
ble. * * * Wm. E. Boggs, 

Secretary of Faculty. 

January 8, 1862. — * * * Resolved, That no permission be 
given for the reorganization of the corps of the College Cadets 
for the current year. * * * 

J. L. ReynoIvDS, Secretary. 

January 13, 1862. — * * * A petition from the students for 
reorganizing the College Cadets was read by the Chairman, and 
after considerable discussion was laid over for consideration at 
the next meeting. W. E. BoGGS, 

Secretary of Faculty. 



24 

The following is a copy of the petition above referred to : 

S. C. CoLi.EG:e, January 13, 1862. 
Gentlemen: We, the students of the S. C. College, in our 
desire to reorganize the company of College Cadets, have for 
our object simply its preservation and continuance as an insti- 
tution in College. In making our election between the College 
and the Army, we have been controlled by no false pretences. 
We do not intend nor wish to use the company to break up the 
College, or interfere in any way with its accustomed pursuits : 
In this spirit, we hereby pledge ourselves, that we will not leave 
for the war as a College Company, unless ordered by the Execu- 
tive Council of our State ; and we further pledge, that we will 
not make application to said Executive Council to be released 
from the duties of the College and called into the military 
service of the country as a Coillege Company. Trusting that 
our petition will be granted, we are, gentlemen, 
With the highest respect, yours, &c., 

Ire;dsli, Jonks, 
a. t. goodwyn, 
Augustine T. Smythe, 
Committee. 

January 19, 1862. — * * * The petition from the students 
for leave to reorganize the College Company was debated and 
rejected * * * (Minute in handwriting of Dr. J. L. Rey- 
nolds). 

February 18, 1862. — A meeting of the Faculty was called by 
the Chairman. Present: All the members. 

The propriety of suspending the College exercises on Friday, 
the appointed Fast Day, was considered. It was agreed to 
suspend the exercises after the seven o'clock exercise ; and there 
being no further business, the Faculty adjourned. 

Monday, February 19, * * * The Faculty expressed their 
opinion, that under the exigency of the call for volunteers the 



25 

President ought to give permission to all the students, who 
desire it, to go home to consult their parents. * * * 

Tuesday, March 11, 1862. — Faculty met, and the Chairman 
presented the following paper and resolution, which was 
adopted after some discussion : ; 

Faculty Room, 
South Carolina College, 

March 11, 1863. 

A large number of the students of the South Carolina Col- 
lege have responded to the call for volunteers by the authorities 
of the State, and, the rest of them having received permission 
to return home to consult their parents, its exercises are, there- 
fore, suspended for the present. Young men from sixteen to 
eighteen years of age are exempted from active military service, 
and there is no reason why the College should not go on, even 
with its numbers diminished. The Freshman and the Sopho- 
more Classes, at least, might be preserved, and to this nucleus 
many at the Academies, who would present themselves for 
admission at the usual period, may be sufficiently proficient to 
be added. However much the Faculty may deplore the neces- 
sity which thus dissolves so suddenly their connection with a 
body of noble and intelligent youth, they wish to be understood 
as not impeaching the wisdom of the measure, or seeking to 
interfere in any way with the patriotic call thus made for the 
defence of the commonwealth. While repelling to the extent 
of our ability the insolent foe who has invaded our borders, 
and vindicated with unconquerable spirit the cause of freedom 
and right, it is the duty of the patriot to uphold, as far as cir- 
cumstances will allow, the educational interests of the country. 
The Faculty of this College, feeling that this high trust is to 
some extent committed to them, and hoping that they may be 
the honored instruments of keeping it alive, even amid the con- 
vulsions of a revolution, have adopted the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the College exercises be resumed on Monday 
next, the 17th instant, with such students as may then be 



26 

present, and that applicants for admission be examined on the 
first Monday in April. M. La Borde, 

Chairman of the Faculty. 

Monday, April 7, 1862. — * * * The Faculty resolved that 
the Treasurer be instructed to keep the funds paid into the 
treasury separate, so that, in case of the exercises of the Col- 
lege being discontinued during the term, the proper amounts 
may be refunded to the students. (Minute in W. E. Boggs' 
handwriting) . 

Monday, June 16, 1862. — Faculty met. Present : The Chair- 
man, Professors John and Joseph ' Le Conte, Reynolds, and 
Rivers. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and ap- 
proved. The Faculty then adjourned. 

C. Bruce: Walker, 
Secretary Faculty. 

Monday, June 16, 1862, 8 P. M.— Dr. La Borde informed the 
Faculty that the Confederate authorities had made application 
for the College buildings, in order to use them as a hospital for 
the sick and wounded of the army on the coast of South Caro- 
lina ; that the application was earnestly urged by the Governor 
and Council ; and that, at a meeting of the Executive Committee 
of the College, the Hon. W. F. DeSaussure, on learning that 
the Faculty had appointed Monday, the 23d inst., for the com- 
mencement of the usual spring examination, had requested Dr. 
La Borde to have the examination entered upon and completed 
as soon as possible, on the grounds that the hospital accommo- 
dations in the city was already exhausted; that the battle on 
James Island had begun, and that the emergency, therefore, 
was one of the most pressing character. Under the circum- 
stances, the Faculty felt it to be their duty to anticipate by a 
few days the date previously fixed for beginning the examina- 
tion, and ordered that the examination be commenced on Tues- 
day, the 17th inst., at 3 P. M., and to be conducted as follows : 
[Here follows the schedule of examination.] 



27 

October 6, 1862 — Monday, 9 A. M. — Pursuant to adjourn- 
ment, the Faculty met. Present: The Chairman and Profs. 
Barnwell, John and Joseph Le Conte, Reynolds and Rivers. 
The Chairman made the following statement, which, with the 
correspondence also presented, was ordered to be entered on 
the Minutes of the Faculty meeting : 

"The College is now a Confederate hospital. Application 
was made to me [the acting President] for that purpose, but 
I refused it. I conferred subsequently with the Executive 
Committee of the College, resident in Columbia, and they con- 
curred with me. The Confederate authorities then made appli- 
cation to the Governor and Council. That body set apart the 
College buildings for a hospital, and ordered an assessment of 
the beds, bedding, bedsteads, and other furniture belonging to 
the students. The College was now taken in possession and 
the hospital established. 

In August the following communication was addressed to 
the Governor and Council : 

South Cargi^ina ColIvEGE, 

August 20, 1862. 
To the Hon. the Governor and' Council : 

Some months ago the College buildings were set apart by 
you as a hospital for the Confederate Government. The Execu- 
tive Committee of the College are under the impression that it 
was your purpose to take temporary possession only and to 
make permanent provision in some other way for the sick and 
disabled soldiery. The sessions, according to usage, will open 
on the first Monday in October, and it is respectfully requested 
that the buildings be turned over to the College authorities by 
the middle of September, that the necessary steps may be taken 
to fit them for the occupancy of the students. 
With the highest respect, 

M. La Borde, Chair. Ex. Com. 

It was replied that the Governor was absent from the city, 
but that a final answer would be given upon his return, or that 



28 

the matter would be referred to the Convention that was soon 
to assemble. The Governor returned and no answer was 
given; the Convention met and the College received no con- 
sideration. In the meantime I conferred with eleven of the 
Trustees, and informed them particularly of the condition of 
things. In the name of the Executive Committee, and as the 
representative of the Faculty, I asked advice as to any further 
steps which might be taken. I was informed that I had dis- 
charged my obligations to the Trustees and the College, and 
that nothing more could be done by me. This was during the 
session of the Convention, and a majority of the Council, and 
all of the Trustees, whom I consulted, with the exception of 
one or two, were members of that body. I made several fruit- 
less efforts to assemble the Council, that I might receive a final 
answer to my communication. Nor would there have been 
greater success with the Board of Trustees. Upon the adjourn- 
ment of the Convention and the continuance of the Council in 
authority, a written request was again made that a final answer 
be given to my application, and the following reply was received 
from his Excellency the Governor : 

State; o^ South Carolina, 
He;adquarters, 
September 30, 1862. 
To Dr. M. La Borde. 

Dear Sir : The communication you made to Col. Hayne this 
day has been referred to me. The Council think that, as the 
College was broken up on account of the war by the students' 
entering into service, it is eminently proper that the College 
should be used as a hospital for the present. During the sickly 
season of this summer it has been a great blessing to our men 
who were so much exposed on our coast. It is probable a large 
force will be sent here this fall and winter, and perhaps it may 
be absolutely necessary that some such establishment should 
be kept up for the present; but if it could be got by the first 
of January, we would desire it, so that, if the change of cir- 



29 

cumstances would justify it, the College could be opened for 
the reception of students. They think it best for the buildings 
to remain as they are for the present. 

You know that I myself, individually, as a member of the 
Council, was at first opposed to any system that would force 
our young men from the Literary and Theological Seminaries 
of the State into the army. I was, therefore, in favor of organ- 
izing the students into separate military corps, under special 
officers appointed, and then to assign them for duty in their 
Institutions until called out to defend the State in actual inva- 
sion, but subject to the orders of the Council alone. In that 
way, perhaps, we might have kept the Institutions from being 
broken up, unless the Confederate Conscription Law, after- 
wards passed, should dissolve them : but, even in that case, I 
think we might have kept them from actual field service by 
holding them ready for any invasion only. But a different 
policy was pursued, and now we have to adapt ourselves to the 
exigencies by which we are surrounded. There seems to be 
now no alternative but to submit to the suspension of our Insti- 
tutions during the war. It is deeply to be regretted, but we 
have no alternative. 

With great respect, yours truly, 

F. W. Picke;ns. 

P. S. — It will all be referred to the Legislature for action. 

F. W. P. 

"Here, it was thought, was the end of the matter, so far at 
least as concerned the opening of the College in October. No 
one had looked outside of the Governor and Council. The 
Trustees who had been consulted suggested no other line of 
action, and, unwilling as the Faculty of the College might be, 
it was thought that nothing was left but to yield as graceful 
a submission to authority as circumstances would allow." 

When Dr. La Borde concluded his statement, the following 
resolution was offered and decided in the negative : 

"The College buildings being retained as a hospital by the 



so 

authorities of the State, the Faculty will continue the collegiate 
exercises as far as possible for such students as reside in the 
city and its vicinity, and all others who may apply ; therefore, 

"Resolved, That such students be invited to meet to-morrow, 
at 10 A. M., in the room used as the Chemical Laboratory." 

The following resolution was then submitted and unani- 
mously adopted : 

"Whereas, the Faculty have been informed that arrangements 
are in progress for abandoning the College buildings as a hospi- 
tal ; therefore, be it 

"Resolved, That notice be given that the College exercises 
will be resumed as soon as the buildings are properly arranged ; 
and that the Chairman of the Faculty be requested to make 
an urgent appeal to the Medical Director in order to secure 
proper possession of the buildings." 

The Faculty then adjourned. 

C. Bruce; Walker, 
Secretary of the Faculty. 

October 16, 1862.—* * * The Chairman then submitted 
the following correspondence which had ensued under the reso- 
lution adopted at the last meeting : 

South Carolina CoIvLEGE, 

October 7, 1862. 
My Dear Sir : At a meeting of the Faculty of this College I 
was instructed to ask that the College buildings be turned over 
to me at the earliest possible period at which arrangements can 
be made to that effect. I am happy to know that these time- 
honored walls have for the last several months been devoted to 
a patriotic service, and that much good has been accomplished 
by it. The Faculty bdieve, however, that without any special 
detriment to the public good, they may be returned to them 
and that the sick soldier can find an asylum elsewhere. I must 
take occasion to add that in the conference with the Governor 
and Council, when the College was appropriated to hospital 
purposes, the Executive Committee of the College received the 



31 

impression that the possession was designed to be temporary 
only. 

With high regard, I am 

M. La Borde;, 
Dr. T. L. Ogier, Chairman of the Faculty. 

Medical Director, Charleston. 

Medical Dire^ctor's O^ifiCE;, 
Charleston, October 12, 1862. 
Prof. M. La Borde, Columbia. 

Sir: Your letter, which I expected to find here upon my 
return to the city, has not yet reached me. 

In my communication to Prof. Le Conte, I stated that we 
would be willing to remove the sick, and give up the College 
buildings as a hospital, as soon as arrangements could be made 
to procure another building for their accommodation. I visited 
Columbia on the 8th inst., for this purpose, and found that in 
consequence of the difficulty in obtaining lumber and labor, it 
would still be several months before suitable buildings could be 
erected; and I also learned that it was the intention of the 
Governor and Council to recommend to the Legislature that 
the College be closed during the war. 

Under these circumstances, I respectfully recommend that the 
College Hospital be allowed to remain as it is during the war; 
the buildings will not be used for any other purposes during 
that time, and the Confederate and State Governments will 
both be saved much expense by this arrangement. 

With many thanks for the information received in my per- 
sonal intercourse with you on the subject during my late visit 
to Columbia, I have the honor to be. 
Very respectfully yours, 

T. L. Ogisr, 
Medical Director. 

The Faculty then adjourned to meet upon the call of the 
Chairman. C. Bruce; Walke;r, 

Secretary of the Faculty. 



82 

May 11, 1863. — At the call of the Chairman, the Faculty met 
this morning at 9 o'clock. Present : The Chairman and Profs. 
John and Joseph Le Conte, and Rivers. The Chairman pre- 
sented and read the following communication from the Secre- 
tary of the Board of Trustees : 

CoivivKG^ Library, 

May 7, 1863. 
Dr. M. La Borde. 

Dear Sir : At a meeting of the Board of Trustees last even- 
ing, the following resolutions were adopted, viz : 

Resolved, That the College duties be resumed at the usual 
time next fall, and that notice of this resolution be given to the 
Professors of the College, and to the Confederate authorities 
who may have charge of the College buildings as a hospital; 
also, 

That the Faculty give public notice that the duties of the 
College will be resumed on the 1st October next. 
Very respectfully yours, 

L. L. Frassr, Jr., Secretary. 

Whereupon, Prof. Rivers introduced the following preamble 
and resolution : 

Whereas, to carry into effect the resolution of the Trustees — 
that we shall open the College on 1st October — it is necessary 
that we should have possession of the buildings as early as 
practicable ; therefore, 

Resolved, That the Chairman of the Faculty and Drs. John 
and Joseph Le Conte be a Committee to correspond with the 
Confederate authorities, with a view of securing possession of 
the buildings by the 1st July next. 

This preamble and resolution being unanimously adopted, 
the Faculty adjourned. C. Bruck WAr,KE;R, 

Secretary of Faculty. 

July 7, 1863. — At the call of the Chairman, the Faculty 
assembled to-day. Present: The Chairman, and Profs. John 
and Joseph Le Conte, and Reynolds. The Chairman stated 



33 

that, in reply to the application made by him to the Medical 
Director for the return of the College buildings, with the view 
of resuming the duties of the College on the first Monday in 
October, he had been officially informed that the public neces- 
sity demanded a continuance of the College Hospital, and that 
the buildings, therefore, could not be surrendered. 

For the furtlier information of the Faculty, he read the 
following : 

( Copy. ) ' He;adquarte;rs, 

Department of South Carolina, Ga., and Fla., 

Charleston, S. C, June 19, 1863. 
Sir: The subject-matter of your letter of May 30th has been 
duly considered by the commanding General, who instructs me 
to answer that he feels unable to accede to the request of the 
Faculty of the South Carolina College to restore to their pos- 
session, on the 1st proximo, the buildings of their College at 
Columbia, now occupied as a hospital for the sick and wounded 
soldiers of the Confederate States. 

Were the College buildings in question surrendered to the 
Faculty, the hospital resources of that important point would 
be wholly inadequate to the needs of the service, inasmuch as no 
other suitable buildings can be found in Columbia, or other 
convenient point in the State, to be used as hospitals in their 
stead. In other words, in view of the wants of the service, it 
is clearly impossible to give these buildings up at this juncture. 
This result was anticipated and recognized by a recent Joint 
Resolution, passed without division, it is stated, by the Legis- 
lature of the State of South Carolina, advising the Trustees of 
this College to suspend collegiate exercises, and to permit the 
College buildings to remain in occupation of the Confederate 
authorities for the purpose of a military hospital. 
Respectfully your obedient servant, 
( Signed) Thomas Jordan, 

Chief of Staff. 



34 

To Surgeon N. S. Crowell, Medical Director of General Hos- 
pitals Dpt. S. C, etc., Charleston, S. C. 
True Copy. 

N. S. Crowell, Medical Director General Hospitals. 
To Prof. M. La Borde, Chairman of Faculty. South Carolina 
College, Columbia, S. C. 

The Chairman was instructed to communicate the facts to the 
Board of Trustees, and the following letter was ordered to be 
addressed to his Excellency, the Governor, President of the 
Board : 

(Copy.) Faculty Room, 

July 7, 1863. 
Sir : Immediately upon the receipt of the order of the Board 
of Trustees to resume the exercises of the College on the first 
Monday in October, I convened the Faculty that the necessary 
steps might be taken to carry it out. I was instructed by the 
Faculty to address Dr. Crowell, the Medical Director of this 
Department, and ask that we be put in possession of the Col- 
lege buildings by the 1st of July. After long delay, I was at 
last officially informed that the exigencies of the Government 
demand that the College Hospital be continued. As the build- 
ings then are not to be returned to us, it is not possible to 
comply with your order; and it is for your honorable body to 
take such further steps in the matter as to your better wisdom 
may seem proper. It is not for the Faculty to determine the 
line of conduct which, in their judgment, you ought to pursue ; 
but it is not improper to remark, that, perhaps, by a modifica- 
tion of your order, all the demands for collegiate instruction 
may be met, and the buildings still continue as a Confederate 
Hospital. In the present condition of the country, the number 
of young men who will present themselves for admission must 
be necessarily small; and it is believed that accommodations 
may be found for them in the Commons' Hall, the College Hall, 
and the Lecture Rooms of the Professor of Chemistry and 
Natural Mechanical Philosophy. It is, therefore, respectfully 



86 

suggested that the Executive Committee of the College be 
authorized to make all the necessary arrangements for resuming 
the exercises in the manner indicated. 

With highest regard, I am, dear Sir, 

M. La Borde;, 
Chairman of Faculty, South Carolina College. 

His Excellency M. L. Bonham, President Board of Trustees, 
S. C. College. 
C. Bruce; WaivKe;r, 
Secretary of Faculty. ' 

(With the exception of a called meeting on October 20, 1863, 
to consider the matter of rent for the Steward's Hall, no other 
meeting of the Faculty was held until June 23, 1865. — G. A. 
W.) 

By direction of the Chairman of the Faculty, the following 
communication is here recorded : 

December 8, 1863. C. Bruc^ Walker, 

Secretary Faculty. 

Columbia, S. C, December 2, 1863. 
Dr. M. La Borde, Chairman of Executive Committee, S. C. C. 

Dear Sir : The following is a copy of the report adopted by 
the Board of Trustees this evening, viz : 

"The Committee, to whom were referred the reports of the 
Chairman of the Faculty and of the Treasurer and Librarian, 
and of the Marshal and Steward, as well as the resolutions in 
relation to the suspension of the College exercises, and measures 
dependent thereon, submit the following report : 

"The suspension of the College exercises seems to be a matter 
of necessity. The Confederate authorities have taken posses- 
sion, for war purposes, of all the Colleges, and there are no 
apartments for the students. If it were otherwise, there could 
be no Senior Class, and but few members of Junior. Past 
experience shows that they would be within the limits of the 
Conscription age. There could be no graduating class ; and no 



36 

diplomas could with propriety be conferred, because the cur- 
riculum of studies could not be carried out, the Presidency of 
the College being vacant, as well as two Professorships, and 
there is no proposition to fill them. 

"If the exercises are suspended, the Professors will be with- 
out employment, yet to disband the present corps of faithful 
and able Professors is for obvious reasons unadvisable. To 
prevent the burthen of their salaries from pressing upon the 
State Treasury, it is proposed to call upon the Confederate 
Government to pay a reasonable rent for the use of the college 
buildings, and out of the proceeds to pay the salaries of the 
Professors. 

"The Committee recommends that application be made by 
the President of the Board to the Confederate Government, or 
the proper officers, to pay for the use of the college buildings 
within the campus a rent of $12,500 per annum, Irom June, 
1862, at which time they took possession, and for the use of the 
College Hall outside the campus, from , 1863, when they 

took possession, at the rate of $2,500 per annum. These rents 
are far below what could be obtained for the use of the build- 
ings if they were let at a public bidding. 

"The Committee r€comm_end that the offices of Steward or 
Bursar and Marshal be discontinued during the suspension of 
the College exercises, and that the buildings occupied by the 
officers be surrendered to the Executive Committee, that the 
same may be let by them upon such terms as they may deem 
expedient ; but only during the suspension of the College exer- 
cises, and that the rents be applied, if necessary, towards the 
payment of the Professors' salaries, and otherwise to such debts 
as may be due by the Trustees. 

"The Committee recommend that all the College buildings 
and premises within and without the campus be let out, during 
the suspension of the College exercises, by the Executive [Com- 
mittee] on reasonable terms; but that there be exempted from 
this the Library building, the Laboratory, and the Apparatus 
and Mineral Rooms, the Euphradian and Clariosophic Societies, 



37 

the premises of the Professors now occupied by them, the build- 
ings and premises appropriated by the Confederate Government 
and the house and premises lately occupied by Professor Barn- 
well, which the Committee recommend may be permitted to 
continue in the possession of the mother and sisters of the late 
Professor Barnwell, until the further order of the Board, with- 
out charge. 

"The Committee recommend that the Executive Committee 
cause the necessary repairs to be made upon the Library roof 
and windows, upon the Steward's Hall and premises, and such 
other repairs as they may find necessary, and draw upon the 
Treasury for payment. The estimate of the Committee is that 
they cannot exceed $3,000. 

"The Committee recommend that the account of J. C. Dial, 
and Allen and Dial, $115.54, be paid. 

"The Committee recommend an appropriation of $100 for 
firewood in the Library this winter. Also that $400 be appro- 
priated for part salary of the Librarian, and $50 for part salary 
of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. 

"The Committee recommend that the Librarian address let- 
ters to each member of the Faculty and every student reported 
by him to have books of the Library in their possession, request- 
ing their return ; and when the parties are dead, to their repre- 
sentatives. 

"The accounts of the Treasurer are found to be properly 
vonched. 

"It is recommended that his Excellency the Governor, be re- 
quested to communicate to the Legislature the action of the 
Board in relation to the suspension of the College exercises. 

"W. F. De;Saussure;, Chairman. 

"L. L. Fraser, Secretary of the Board. 

"December 2d, 1863." G. A. W. 

The minutes of the Board of Trustees rdating to the war 
record of the South Carolina College will be published in a 
later issue of the Bulletin. 



38 



PROR RIVERS AND THE COLLEGE LIBRARY 

Some Facts in the; Li:pe; op the Historian Unknown to 
His Many Friends and Admirers. 

By Yates Snowden, 

Dr. William A. Schaper, of the University of Minnesota, in 
1901, made a study of "Sectionalism and Representation in 
South Carolina." It was a notable historical work, in the mod- 
ern scientific method, and was awarded the Justin Winsor Prize 
of the American Historical Association. At the close of the 
preface to his monograph. Dr. Schaper observes : "The South 
Carolinians had a peculiar dislike for publicity. They avoided 
getting into print or having their acts recorded. An outsider, 
who inquires into their local history, may occasionally hear such 
a feeling expressed, especially by the older persons, even at this 
day. Such a sentiment seems very quaint to a born Westerner. 
* * * Perhaps we may strike a happy balance between the two 
extremes some day." 

William James Rivers is a notable type of the South Caro- 
linian of the old regime, who shuns publicity, forgetting that 
his friends and the people generally have a right to know more 
of a life so devoted to historical research, education and, what 
Milton calls, "the dear affection of the public good." 

Especially should Professor Rivers' career interest South 
Carolina Collegians for he entered the faculty in 1856 and did 
not resign until 1873, when the influx of negroes made it im- 
possible for him to remain with his alma mater. 

Mr. A. S. Salley, Jr., has recently prepared a brief but excel- 
lent sketch of the life of Professor Rivers, which has been pub- 
lished in elegant style, "to commemorate the presentation of a 
portrait (painted by John Stolle, of Dresden,) of Prof. Rivers, 
to the Charleston Library Society by Hon. William A. Courte- 
nay, LL. D." 



89 

There are several incidents and episodes in the life of this 
eminent historical scholar which have escaped Mr. Salley's care- 
ful research, and may properly find record in a "Bulletin" of the 
University of South Carolina. 

Prof. Rivers last year, in answer to my earnest inquiries, de- 
clared that : "Governor Magrath, not myself, deserves the praise 
of saving or trying to save the College Library. He initiated 
the effort, I acted as his agent. When he told me of the infor- 
mation just received by him of Sherman's intended march on 
Columbia,! communicated it "to my associates at the College, and 
all were anxious to save their valuables and send them out of 
the city. Vehicles of all kinds were in demand, and there was 
an abandonment of making boxes for the removal of the 
Library. It had become an impossible task. The giving it 
up — the non-removal of the books — turned out to be the saving 
of them. * * * 

"The keys of the Library had been left with me as I was to 
select the books for deportation. When the city had surren- 
dered and was set on fire in various directions, the conflagration 
seriously threatened the College buildings. Two Federal offi- 
cers (my memory is a little defective here, but I say 'two,' from 
subsequent occurrences), came to me saying, they had been 
informed that I had the keys of the Library, and they would try 
to save it from being burnt if I would show them how the roof 
of it could be reached. I think I accompanied them and went 
in and showed them the small door in the gallery of the build- 
ing through which was the way to the roof." 

"We had the yellow flag over the College buildings, which 
were used 9-^ a hospital. All the sick and wounded from way- 
side and Ouier hospitals had been brought within our walls; 
Confederate as well as Federal sick and wounded. The ambu- 
lances from the fighting lines near the city were constantly 
adding to the number of wounded and dying. The flag above 
us had been our protection. Afterwards Federal guards were 
placed around us to keep off (if possible) the marauders." 



40 

"When I was coming from the Library two of these marau- 
ders, who had been lurking nearby, approached and said: 'We 
saw you take two of our officers into this building; will you not 
take us in also ?' I complied. They peered about for pillage, 
evidently, and finding none became angry and abusive. 

" 'Whose image is that?' (pointing to a bust of Calhoun). 

"I told them, and they cried : 'Smash it to pieces.' 

" 'Not so,' I said, 'he never said Disunion.' 

'"Is that so? Well, who is this fellow?' 
"'That's Scott,' I answered, pointing to the bust of Sir 
Walter. 

" 'Ah !' said they, 'he was a fine man and fought for us in 
Mexico.' 

"And so they passed on, peering about, till I assured them 
nothing was there but books ; and gently led them down again. 
They went off, no doubt, for pillage elsewhere." 

But, though Professor Rivers fortunately, as it turned out, 
did not remove the books from the College Library building for 
safe keeping, yet he rendered inestimable service in co-operating 
with Mr. Huntt in saving the records of the proceedings of the 
Provincial Assembly and probably of the House of Representa- 
tives. 

In a letter to his friend, the late Mr. Daniel Ravenel, of 
Charleston, in 1883, he wrote : 

"While I was having boxes made for the most valuable books 
in the College Library, my friend, William R. Huntt, Secretary 
of State, was trying to save the old records in the State House, 
He worked day and night, and I was with him when, to his 
great joy, the last wagon-load of these manuscript volumes, so 
important to the history of the State, roiled away. I had been 
off and on for many years, in his office searching among the old 
records, and had permission to do the same among all manu- 
scripts in the State House, and my joy was no less than his. 
What was not then saved was all burnt up by the enemy in less 
than forty-eight hours. When I asked afterwards how it had 
fared with the wagons, I was told that while they were in the 



41 

woods parties of the enemy passed on the roads above and 
below without discovering them." 

Professor Rivers was better acquainted with these records 
than any man in the State, and knew their value. While pre- 
paring his little brochure, "Topics in the History of South 
Carolina," he found the old MSS. volumes in the Secretary's 
office in Columbia going to ruin, and called Governor W. B. 
Seabrook's attention to it. He addressed the Legislature on 
the subject and brought about the better preservation of these 
invaluable records. 

It may be added that Governor Seabrook desired that Pro- 
fessor Rivers should go through the State and report on the 
condition of the Free Schools. But, Mr. Isaac W. Hayne, 
whom he consulted, told him that he could not be released from 
his duty to him and to others in supervising tlie education of 
their sons in Charleston, and he, therefore, respectfully de- 
clined the Governor's proposal. 

A much greater honor was offered Professor Rivers during 
the Hon. C. G. Memminger's administration as Secretary of the 
Treasury of the Confederate States. His friend, the Secretary, 
wrote to him to come to Richmond and become Treasurer of the 
Confederate States. For several reasons this distinguished ap- 
pointment was declined, the principal reason, probably, being 
Professor Rivers's aversion to asking any friend to become 
surety for him, the amount of the bond being very large. 

Mr. Salley in his tentative bibliography of Professor Rivers 
omits two, the first and, probably, the last of the his- 
torian's works. In 1843 there appeared anonymously in 
Charleston a little duodecimo pamphlet of seventy-one pages, 
entitled "A Catechism of the History and Chronology of South 
Carolina." M'Carter and Allen publishers. This little work 
probably has the distinction of being not only the first school 
history of South Carolina, but also of being among the first 
histories published for use in teaching. It was not until the 
middle of the nineteenth century that the subject was taken up 
as a separate course by the schools and colleges. During the 



42 

second quarter of the century, the schools began to use S. G. 
Goodrich's ("Peter Parley's") history and Noah Webster's 
"School History of the United States," to which was "prefixed 
a brief Account of our Ancestors from the Dispersion at Babel 
to their Migration to America." Professor Rivers confines 
himself strictly to the history of South Carolina, and although 
his book is in the form of question and answer, the author suc- 
ceeds in making a concise, coherent, and interesting story. If 
the questions were omitted, the book would be more attractive 
to the reader and probably more serviceable as a school text. 
We miss in it the maps, illustrations and other devices that con- 
tribute so much to make modern texts both useful and fascinat- 
ing. It was customary to illustrate text-books at that time, 
but doubtless the author's good taste and scholarship revolted 
at the inaccurate and grotesque illustrations of the New Eng- 
land publications. None of the text-books published at this 
period in Charleston used illustrations. They are, however, 
excellent in paper, print and binding. 

Prof. Rivers's Catechism is divided into twelve short chap- 
ters. Ten are devoted to the history and chronology of South 
Carolina from the first settlement to the adoption of a State 
Constitution, and two are given to "a summary view of our 
Constitution." The author states that his little catechism was 
compiled for pupils too young to pursue the study of history on 
an extended scale, and he expresses the hope that it may be use- 
ful also to those of maturer years as a summary and review of 
the principal events in the history of their native State. 

The "Catechism" was followed in 1850 by the "Topics in the 
History of South Carolina," to which reference has already 
been made. 

In 1886 Professor Rivers's last notable historical work ap- 
peared. In the "Narrative and Critical History of America," 
edited by Justin Winsor, LL. D., Librarian of Harvard Uni- 
versity, and a distinguished Cartographer, Professor Rivers was 
selected to write the chapter on the "CaroHnas." For his 



48 

account of North Carolina he received from the late Col. W. L. 
Saunders, Secretary of State, in acknowledgment the ten large 
volumes of the Colonial Records of North Carolina, through 
the Trustees of the State Library at Raleign. 



W- 



